CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) UPDATE FOR FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS - Division of Developmental Disabilities

The New Jersey Department of Human Services
 Division of Developmental Disabilities

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     CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
           (COVID-19)
    UPDATE FOR FAMILIES AND
          PROVIDERS
              December 23, 2020

Agenda
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 COVID-19
 January Webinars
 FY21 DSP Wage Increase
 Residential Enhancement (20%)
 Temporary $3 Per Hour Increase for Group Homes
 COVID-19 Vaccine Information
 Resources

New Jersey COVID-19 Current Statistics*
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                   State of New Jersey
              Positive              435,763
              Deaths                 16,315
*This update is as of Wednesday, December 22, 2020.

For regular updates: https://covid19.nj.gov/
Consider downloading COVID Alert NJ on your
Apple or Android smartphone:
https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/app

DDD Specific COVID-19 Statistics*
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                    Community       Developmental               Total
              Licensed     Own Home    Centers

Positive        1,159           271               572           2,002
Deaths            74            37                42             153
*DDD-specific statistics are updated weekly. Community data includes
individuals actively under DDD services in settings such as group homes,
supervised apartments, out of state, and own-home settings.

Full detail, including data for individuals not under services for whom
reporting is voluntary and provided for informational purposes only, can
be found at NJ Department of Human Services COVID-19 Information.

DDD December Webinar Schedule
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 January update webinars:
  Thursday, January 7, 2021 – 10:30 am
  Thursday, January 21, 2021 – 10:30 am

 Use links below to register:
   Register for January 7 Update Webinar

   Register for January 21 Update Webinar

FY21 DSP Wage Increase
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 DSP Wage Increase goes into effect January 1, 2021.
 The rate increases are expected to be updated in the
  system as of January 1 – any changes or delays will
  be communicated by the Division.
 Please see the updated FAQs: FY2021 DSP and
  Supervisor Rate Increases

FY21 DSP Wage Increase
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 As the increased funding was allocated to the
  Division specifically for the purpose of a wage
  increase, it is required to be used for this purpose –
  even if current wages are above minimum
  wage.
 Because the statewide minimum wage will continue
  to increase (see NJ Minimum Wage), the funding
  allocated for a wage increase must be passed
  through as an hourly wage increase and not a
  bonus.

FY21 DSP Wage Increase
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 State Supplemental Payments
    State Supplemental payments will receive an increase. However,
     as these funds are not eligible for federal match they are funded at
     50% of the targeted increase.
    This is .62 per hour as opposed to $1.25.
    This amount, at a minimum, must be passed through to DSPs and
     their supervisors.
    Agencies that are claiming for in-person and virtual services
     (eligible for federal match) should do their best to forecast that
     revenue and further add to the wage increase for DSPs and their
     supervisors.
    Once the public health emergency ends and regular claiming
     resumes, the remainder of the increase shall occur.

Residential Enhancement
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 20% Enhancement to Individual Supports
 Daily Rate:
  Will  extend through at least January 31, 2021.
  This amount will receive an upward adjustment
   to account for the January 1st wage increase.
  As this payment is eligible for federal match, it
   will realize the full targeted increase of $1.25 per
   hour for DSPs and their supervisors.

Temporary $3 Increase to DSPs
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 As you are aware, DHS/DDD implemented a
  second $3 per hour wage increase for DSPs
  working in settings claiming Individual
  Supports Daily Rate.
 That was effective October 1 through
  December 31, 2020.
 DHS/DDD is pleased to announce this will
  extend from January 1 through March 31,
  2021.

COVID-19 Vaccine
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 Currently, two vaccines have received Emergency Use
  Authorization by the FDA - Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
 The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (CDC) - Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
  (ACIP) continues to make recommendations about vaccine
  prioritization. On December 20th ACIP provided the
  following updated recommendations to states:
    Phase 1A (health care personnel, and long-term care facility
     residents), if COVID-19 vaccine supply is limited, the following
     groups should be offered vaccination:
    Phase 1B: persons aged ≥75 years and frontline essential workers.
    Phase 1C: persons aged 65–74 years, persons aged 16–64 years with
     high-risk medical conditions, and other essential workers.

COVID-19 Vaccine in New Jersey
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 New Jersey is currently in Phase 1A.
 Beginning December 15th, some New Jersey
  hospitals have received one or more shipments of
  the Pfizer vaccine and have begun to vaccinate
  frontline hospital and health care workers.
 We anticipate hospitals will receive regular
  shipments of vaccine over the coming weeks.
 Next, we anticipate vaccines will be available at
  certain long term care facilities beginning as early
  as December 28th.

COVID-19 Vaccine in New Jersey
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 Six mega sites throughout New Jersey will serve as vaccination hubs for
  phased priority groups, part of a critical network of sites tasked with
  carrying out the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan fairly and equitably:
     Atlantic County: Atlantic City Convention Center
     Bergen County: Racetrack at Meadowlands, East Rutherford
     Burlington County: Moorestown Mall
     Gloucester County: Rowan College of South Jersey, Sewell
     Middlesex County: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison
     Morris County: Rockaway Townsquare
 These six state-coordinated sites are expected to begin opening in early
  January and will vaccinate front-line healthcare workers and then
  continue to Phases 1B & 1C depending on the supply of vaccine available.
 After these phases are complete, the general public will be eligible for
  vaccination. The timing of the progression among the groups
  depends on the supply of vaccine to the state.

COVID-19 Vaccine
         in New Jersey
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      In addition to the
       mega sites, there
       will be numerous
       Vaccine Points of
       Delivery (PODs) in
       communities across
       NJ.
      COVID-19 Vaccine:
       Who Will Be Able to Get
       the Vaccine?
      NJDOH COVID-19
       Vaccine webpage

COVID-19 Vaccine in New Jersey
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 New Jersey’s Long Term Care Facilities will receive the
  vaccine through the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-
  Term Care (LTC) Program which will be administered onsite
  by CVS and Walgreens.
 DDD’s five developmental centers have been enrolled in this
  program.
     Staff and residents of the DCs will be vaccinated through this program.
     DDD does not have dates from CVS/ Walgreens for when this will begin.
     Developmental Centers have begun the process to obtain informed
      consent from guardians of residents who wish for their loved ones to
      receive the vaccine.
     This program will use the Pfizer vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine
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 The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)
  will be providing weekly updates on the COVID-19
  vaccine via a weekly newsletter, Vax Matters.
 Current and past issues of the NJDOH Vax
  Matters newsletter, as well as other vaccine
  resources, are available on the NJDOH COVID-19
  Vaccine webpage.
 DDD will continue to provide updates as we
  receive them.

Important Resources
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 NJ Department of Health
 24-Hour Hotline: 1 (800) 222-1222

 NJ Department of Human Services COVID-19
 Information

 Contact information for Local Health Departments in NJ

 Contact information for County OEM Coordinators in NJ

Important Resources
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 Disability Rights New Jersey
  1-800-922-7233   (toll-free in New Jersey only)
 Ombudsman for Individuals with Developmental
 Disabilities and their Families
  1-609-984-7764

 New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
  1-800-792-8858

Important Resources
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 For assistance during this time:
   For issues, call the Division Community Services office for your
    county or 1 (800) 832-9173.
   When calling, you will be connected with the Division’s
    answering service who will take information about the
    circumstance and have a Division staff person reach out.
   For routine questions: DDD.FeeForService@dhs.nj.gov

   For COVID-related questions: DDD.COVID-19@dhs.nj.gov

   To report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation: call
    1 (800) 832-9173, then press 1.

Highlighted Resources
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 For individuals, families and caregivers
   Boggs Center COVID-19 Information and Resources

 For individuals:
   NJ Self-Advocacy Project’s Stay Healthy at Home Webinar
    Series
 For Direct Support Professionals
   National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)
    COVID-19 Toolkit for DSPs
   CDC Guidance for Direct Service Providers